Hokkien mee hawker hopes to turn life around after being jailed
After spending 21 months in jail for borrowing from unlicensed moneylenders, 38-year-old hawker Pang Biau Juan is determined to turn his life around by pursuing his Fried Hokkien Mee hawker business.
Pang was one of the 25 current and future hawkers who were rewarded $10,000 cheques each at the inaugural Tiger Beer Street Food Fund ceremony on Thursday (23 Feb). The hawker of 24 years also walked away with a newfound spirit to expand his business.
“I feel great, with the Tiger Street Food Support Fund, I can set up more branches, maybe, three to six months down the road,” Pang told Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore. His stall, Mr Prawnie, was opened four months ago at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8.
Four years ago, the once successful businessman became heavily in debt and ended up borrowing about $50,000 from an unlicensed moneylender. Later on, he ended up in prison for 21 months.
“I almost gave up on being a hawker. But seeing that I have wasted many years and even ended up in prison because of my business, I think I should try it once again. I’m hoping that this fund would be able to help me with that.”
Another recipient was Ngoh Took Guan, 53, who suffered from a heart attack in September 2015. He needed six months to recover from a surgery, causing him to be unemployed.
He then decided to open his own hawker stall at Our Tampines Hub selling Cantonese porridge and braised pork rice after having difficulties finding a job due to his medical history.
“We’re happy and grateful for the funds as it will help lessen the burden of the set-up costs,” said his wife, Ivy Lim, who helps him at the stall.
Pang and Ngoh were two of the 16 current hawkers who received funds. The remaining nine are future hawkers. “I’ve always wanted to be in the hawker business and the food that I love the most has always been hawker food,” said future hawker Tan Ling Hao, who will be opening his fish soup stall at on the second level of Amoy Street Food Centre next month.
The 24-year-old previously ran a bicycle-themed cafe near Seletar Airport with his uncle, but now hopes to have a business of his own.
“I’m quite shocked to have received this because I haven’t even started my business. The application process was quite easy. You just need to apply online and wait for the organisers to call you for an interview. They then asked questions about my business plans, work experiences and why I would like to embark on this business,” said Tan, who has worked at several independent eateries for 10 years.
On why he has chosen to sell fish soup, Tan said that it’s a dish that his parents love to cook. “I feel like the fish broth my parents make is one of the best I’ve ever tasted in Singapore,” he said.
This street food support fund is a first for Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Singapore as part of its efforts to promote and support the hawker trade in Singapore.
“Through this Fund, we hope to inspire people to ‘uncage’ their potential and follow their dreams of becoming a hawker by helping them kick-start their business. Our hawkers are an integral part of our local street food culture, and we will continue to explore new ways to support the hawker trade in Singapore,” said Venus Teoh, head of marketing at APB.
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